Monday, January 30, 2012

As I mentioned I've been thinking about what's next. Here are some possible ideas... stay with me... they are still loosely in the workings....

1.Trans Siberian Railway -

This is something I have been wanting to do for a while. To be more specific I would like to do the trans Mongolian railway. Though my circus travels I have met quite a few people who have given me tips and advice and I think it would be an awesome trip. When else will I be able to spend a month on a train and take loads and loads of pictures? And stop in some pretty beautiful places as well!

2. Kayaking -

I've always loved boating. I've done it since I was a little girl and I used to be pretty good at it. It's something that makes me very happy. This trip to Ecuador was really inspiring and enlightening. It got me thinking that if I tried... If I devoted myself to it... I could spend 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, and get really good at it. If nothing else it would be an experiment to see how good at it I could be. I don't want to be in the 'insanely good' category. But I would like to be a competent and confident class IV boater. And I think I could make it happen!

3. Hong Kong

And with this option we move into the teaching part of the plan. I have just finished my TEFL certificate (teaching English as a foreign language). And I think this is a pretty viable more long term option. Also this is the option that allows me to have the things that I am missing currently…. You know… all that MY stuff. It’s not having THINGS that I think is important… let me make that clear. It’s having a space that belongs to me and me alone.

Hong Kong is great because it can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. You can be surrounded by locals and be the only gweilo in town. And that evening if you so choose you can go into central and go to any kind of restaurant or bar. There are islands with amazing seafood, and if you go about an hour north there is great hiking, sea kayaking, and you're the only person for miles. I have a couple of friends there already... and heaps of friends in Macau.

4. Seoul -

Same same but different. Still teaching. But in Seoul. I've never been, so it would be someplace new. But I am not 100% convinced that Korea is the place to be at the moment! But I do have a few friends here already which is always helpful when moving to a new gig.

5. Osaka -

Again, same same but different. One big difference about Osaka is that I don't know anyone there. I've visited.. briefly. And I am told that it's a pretty beautiful place or that it can be... but this one is for sure a little bit of a shot in the dark!!

6. Keep working for the circus.

At this point maybe not an option. And certainly not one that I am leaping at presently. But yeah... what do you think. It's a good job, and steady, and with benefits.

So there are some of the life choices I have been thinking about as of late. As I have been telling people about these ideas in real life they have generally expressed some interest and 'voted' one way or another.

SO here is a poll for you. Place your votes. Don't worry I won't base any decisions on the outcome! :) Just for giggles!

Hi kids. Let’s talk for a minute, I feel like maybe I have been a bit evasive about what I have been thinking and up to as of late. So how about a real and honest for goodness catch up?

As most of you know for the past three months I have been touring with Totem, a Cirque du Soleil show. We are currently in London. I picked up the tour in San Francisco.

It was and wasn’t a big decision to make the move to this tour. You know me, incredibly vague. Nah, I just mean that I was ready to leave Macau and see something new. So while it was a big change and a big step, it was a little bit of a no brainer at the same time.

That being said, things have not been as awesome here as I would have hoped. I don’t know exactly what it is… it’s just not me. And I am not super passionate about my job. And if I am going to spend 50 hours a week doing anything I feel like I should be passionate about it.

So… it’s time to make plans again! I know so soon! It seems like just yesterday I was planning to come HERE right? And I am not going anywhere for 3 months but in 3 months my contract is up, and I will need to make a decision. So that’s what I have been trying to work on lately, the ability to make that decision which requires me to have options, and to plan them out a little bit…

I don’t know that I want to leave the circus forever. But I think that at the present moment, somewhere there is a better place for me. It has surprised me how much I have missed and craved having a space that is mine. A physical space. To have my bed, my couch, my pillows, my art, hanging from my wall. How needy does that sound>??? My my my… but it turns out that is super important to me. So yeah…. Tomorrow… Options.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

So last week I had a few days off so I went to Copenhagen! I have a friend working there so I thought we could hang out and while he was working I could explore a bit. I was warned that I could walk around the whole town and see everything in 4 hours. I stretched it a bit more than that, but it's pretty small!

I would love to visit in the summertime. It was a bit cold for me!! Here are some photos from the trip though:

The light quality was pretty lovely... when it was light that is! It gets dark at about 4pm and then it got really cold! Well really cold for a FLorida girl! -5C?!

But I had a good time and got to hang out and relax and catch up so it was great.

In other news... I am mega behind in my coursework! So that's what I am going to do now. I am super excited about upcoming news and things... I think I can let you know some secrets in about a week?

In the meantime.... I am cold in London drinking far too much coffee, sleeping too few hours, and working too much (13 hours yesterday!!). Gotta run to Tesco's now for supplies.

Friday, January 27, 2012

And this will not do anything justice I am afraid! I have been uber busy with work and the like here in London town. But many things to report and lots of phots have been taken.

I am off early tomorrow so I PROMISE to upload more of them on here ok?

For now... rest assured that all is well. Just lots and lots and lots of hours spent at work. And I was in Copenhagen for the weekend. How cold fun is that? And that my friends, is what I will leave you with an image of today...

I am sorry! I will try to not be so lame in the future. Tomorrow. Real time.

And yes I have prettier ones that make it look less dreary! But don't be fooled kids... it IS a LITTLE dreary.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

I don't know when I will have the chance if ever to really do this trip justice but it was so amazing and inspiring and life changing. I know that's a lot to say... but it truly was. You can see some of our funny antics below... I'll meet you below the photos to catch you up on some details.

So we all flew in to Quito the evening of the 26th. There were 12 of us there ranging from 18-30 all having worked teaching boating at some point or another... for some of us (hello) it's been longer than others. On the 27th we had an early breakfast and then drove to San Francisco de Borja outfitted some boats and immediately put on the Cosanga river. It was a how shall I say... a bit of a wake up call for some of us who haven't been in boats for a while. The water was bigger than the guides thought it would be so what is usually a class III- turned into a III+ and IV river. Welcome back to boating!

The next day we drove to Tena which was about 2 hours away. Tena is lower in elevation so it was much warmer and the water was a bit friendlier. We stayed there until New Years Day. So while in Tena we did some big water runs and some creek runs as well. But overall it was so so so so amazing!!!! Yes that is 4 so s and 4 exclamation marks!!!!

In Ecuador there is a tradition where men dress up as women... and then you give them money. It's something about father time leaves on the old year, and leaves a widow and a baby (the new year) so the men all dress up in drag. So on New Year's Eve we walked through the street and danced with boys dressed in skirts. Light up glasses and bunny ears and some true Ecuadorian fashion helped us 'fit in'.

There are so many rivers in that area and such a variety which was super cool!

And yeah, life changing. It made me remember how much I freaking LOVE boating! I have not been in a boat consistently since 2004! Holy crap that's a long time! So I felt like I did really well considering those facts! 7 years is a long long time. It made me think about whats next for me and maybe that answer needs to have some more accessible water. I don't ever want to go to worlds or to be a super proficient Class V boater but I would like to be a comfortable Class IV boater which I think is within my grasp if I were to take some time and just go for it.

So maybe that's what 2012 will bring. Going for it! I'm definitely going for SOMETHING. It's just not clear what direction that will be... I will tell you more as I know, but yeah. I can see the fork in the road that's coming. I'm just not sure which way I am headed yet.

Safely in London now. And I flew in and got a note from my boss saying that I don't have to work tomorrow so I get to do all those errand things (sim cards and home stuff etc). But also I get to walk around one of my favorite cities and enjoy the day.